eke

• verb

eke sth <-> out phrasal verb [T]
1 to make something such as food or money last a long time by using small amounts of it
* They eked out their coal by collecting firewood. 他们拣拾木柴以补充煤的不足.
2 eke out a living/existence to get just enough food or money to live on
* eking out a meagre existence 勉强维持贫困的生活.